Faculty, graduate student research awards presented
Each year, the college presents awards to faculty members and graduate students for excellence in research programs or projects. The 2017 winners in all categories are listed below.
Dr. Mansour Mohamadzadeh, left, accepts his award from Harvey Crumm of Zoetis during 2017 Phi Zeta Day activities. (Photo by Sarah Carey)
Zoetis Award for Research Excellence: Dr. Mansour Mohamadzadeh
This award consists of $1,000 and a plaque, and is presented to an individual who is deemed to be a remarkably productive investigator.
Mohamadzadeh, a professor in the department of infectious diseases and pathology, completed his bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. degrees from the German Johannes Gutenberg University, focusing on cellular and molecular immunology. He joined UF’s faculty from Northwestern University in 2011 and serves as director for UF’s Center for Inflammation and Mucosal Immunology. With more than 80 peer-reviewed publications, Mohamadzadeh has expertise in the fields of inflammation, systemic/mucosal immunology, infection and vaccine delivery. He also is known for developing an oral-targeted vaccine that induces intestinal and also system immune responses against pathogen challenges.
Charles F. Simpson Memorial Scholarship: Dr. Selena Tinga
This award, which consists of $1,000 and a plaque, is given to an M.S. or Ph.D. student currently pursuing a degree or having completed his or her graduate studies in the past year. Named for Dr. Charlie Simpson, a veterinary pathologist, criteria for the award generally includes work in the area of protozoan, cardiovascular or hypertension-related problems, although other areas are considered.
Tinga received both her bachelor’s and D.V.M. degrees from Cornell University. She was admitted to the college’s Masters/Surgery Residency program to be mentored by Dr. Stanley Kim in the department of small animal clinical sciences in the fall of 2013. Since summer 2016, she has been enrolled for the Ph.D degree. Her research encompasses defining the three-dimensional kinematics of the cranial cruciate ligament-deficient stifles in dogs. This research, which was presented at the Veterinary Orthopedic Society meeting in 2015, received the award for Best Resident Presentation. Besides performing research in the college, Tinga applies her skills internationally. She recently represented the UFCVM in its partnership with Thailand’s Soi Dog Foundation, the largest animal welfare charity in Southeast Asia, by providing surgical training to staff to save shelter dogs.
Excellence in Master’s Studies: Dr. Mandy Wallace
This award, which consists of $750 and a plaque, recognizes scholarship of a UFCVM graduate student either nearing completion or having completed the M.S. degree within the past year.
Excellence in Doctoral Studies: Dr. Natalie Steckler
This award consists of $750 and a plaque and is given in recognition of excellent scholarship of a UFCVM graduate student either nearing completion or having completed the Ph.D. degree within the past year.
Steckler is a Ph.D. student in the department of infectious diseases and pathology who graduated cum laude with her D.V.M. degree from Auburn University in 2010, after also earning that honor with her bachelor’s degree from Bellarmine University. Natalie Steckler entered the lab of Dr. Tom Waltzek for Ph.D. studies in the fall of 2015. The topic of her dissertation is “Ranaviruses in Aquaculture: Genetic Diversity, Improved Molecular Tools, and Experimental Analysis of Husbandry Factors Influencing Morbidity.” Steckler just presented the results of her dissertation at the recent Eastern Fish Health Workshop in Lansing, Michigan and won best student presentation for her performance.
Excellence in Clinical Science Research: Dr. Alex Fox-Alvarez
This award consists of $750 and a plaque and is given to recognize excellent scholarship of a UFCVM graduate student either nearing completion or having completed a master’s or Ph.D. degree within the past year with a program having significant clinical relevance.
Fox-Alvarez was enrolled for his bachelor’s degree work at Florida State University, but subsequently came to UF and graduated from the UFCVM, receiving his D.V.M. degree in 2012. He re-entered UF as the 2014 Masters/Surgery Resident. Alvarez has already completed four first author publications while obtaining extramural funding of more than $30,000 for his master’s research. Alvarez is studying the development of a technique for continuous gastric decompression in dogs with gastric dilatation and volvulus syndrome. His mentor is Dr. Brad Case in the department of small animal clinical sciences. Alvarez has also presented his research at a variety of scientific meetings, including Phi Zeta Day, where he received second place in the best in show category; the Veterinary Endoscopy Society, in Santa Barbara and in Florence; and at the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, where he won second place in the resident research competition. He plans to defend and graduate with his master’s degree this summer.
Excellence in Basic Science Research: Dr. Hongbin Wang
This award consists of $750 and a plaque and is given to recognize excellent scholarship of a UFCVM graduate student either nearing completion of or having completed a master’s or Ph.D. degree within the past year that involves a research topic in basic science.
Wang is a Ph.D. student in the department of infectious diseases and pathology, working in the lab of Dr. David Pascual. She earned her veterinary and master’s degrees from China’s Sichuan Agricultural University and matriculated to the college’s graduate program in fall of 2010. Her dissertation research is related to basic science of mucosal Brucella Vaccination, which enhances pulmonary resident memory T-cells for protection against Brucella infections. Wang’s research has thus made significant strides in a more complete understanding of these host immune responses to mucosally brucellosis vaccines. She has demonstrated the importance of CD8+ T-cells in protection against brucellosis, which few studies have previously shown. She has defined unique T-cell subsets in the lungs shown to be responsible for this protection. Wang will graduate with her Ph.D. this spring.
